My articles emerge depending on what ever tickles my fancy; hope you enjoy the ride. It started several years ago when one of my op-ed pieces to the Houston Chronicle got butchered; been blogging ever since.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

President’s Day Lessons

What is being taught to our children about President’s
Day? Are they being taught about our
values and beliefs or is some other agenda being implemented, an agenda
intended to marginalize or even destroy the values and beliefs which we hold
sacred? There are facts and then there’s
the manner in which facts are presented.

My grandson came home from the local public school where
he’s in the 6th grade. His
teacher had them watch the National Geographic Society’s YouTube video,The Real George Washington. Being good grandparents we decided to watch
that very same video.

Having watched other National Geographic Society
presentations I’ve developed a cautious approach to their presentations; their
tendency to put a slant on stories isn’t much different than other major news
media outlets. It’s not so much what is
said; rather, how it’s said, what’s omitted or treated with impunity.

After only a few minutes of the video the important
biographical facts about George Washington were that he was a power hungry
young man who lacked military skills and was extremely lucky to have advanced
in rank. He made terrible tactical
decisions but because he was so lucky he survived to fight another day.

There was no mention of his strong religious beliefs, perhaps
later in the video; but we’d already had enough of tearing down a great man all
in the name of being ‘strictly honest’.
The video glossed over his exceptional character, years of self
discipline which made him a natural leader; instead there were references
to a secret cult like group known as the Free Masons who opened doors of
opportunity that eventually led to his becoming president.

If this is an example of what is being foisted off on our
youth in the name of national pride; is it any wonder we’ve lost an entire
generation, a generation of future citizens who have no idea why America became
the greatest nation in the world?

There were plenty of videos to pick from; my next selection
was Glenn Beck’s very short YouTube video, interestingly called, The Real George Washington. Within a few moments the viewer learns that
at the tender age of 16 George Washington had already gained the admiration
from hostile Indians, those who’d tried to kill him in battle. Here’s a printed version of what Glenn Beck
referenced:

“I am a
chief, and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the
great lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary
path, that I might see the young warrior (George Washington, from the day he
had horses shot out from underneath him) of
the Great Battle. … It was on the day when the white man’s blood mixed with the
streams of our forest, that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men
and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe —
he hath an Indian’s wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do — himself is alone
exposed. … Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. … Our rifles were
leveled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss – ‘twas all in vain, a
power mightier far than we, shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I
am old, and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in
the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice
of prophecy. … Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his
destinies — he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will
hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”[SOURCE: Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, by George
Washington Parke Custis, Edited by Benson J. Lossing, Vol. 1, page 248].[FURTHER SOURCE: "The Diary of George
Washington, from 1789 to 1791," Edited by Benson J. Lossing, 1860, p. 303.
This narrative was told to Mr. Custis by Dr. Craik - George Washington's
Life-long Friend who was with him - and witnessed this remarkable scene. It was
first published in 1828].

We asked our grand son if
anything like this had been discussed during his President’s Day lesson; it had
not. There had been no mention of
anything which might touch on a religious or divine connection between the
character of our leaders and what it means to be President of the United States of America.

Our children are being
indoctrinated to think a certain way; a way that is in direct conflict with the
America
I love and revere. They are filled with
names, dates and places without understanding why these names, dates and places
are important.

My grandson knew that 800 AD was
the date Charlemagne became Emperor of the Holy
Roman Empire; but that’s all he knew,
an answer to a test question that might show up to see if he read his
homework. I’m afraid most of his
classmates went home knowing about George Washington in much the same way, just
enough to pass a test at school and nothing about the character and integrity
the man displayed throughout his life because our schools are not teaching
anything about Christian values and morality.

Speaking of Christian values and
morality, have you noticed the statistics regarding the advancement of so
called values in our society? Some
41% of children are born to mothers out of wedlock and 53% believe pre-marital
sex is okay.; but that’s no big deal, is it?
There is a pervasive attitude toward moral relativism, that there is no
right or wrong and that God either doesn’t exist or He no longer cares about
us.

Since it is, after all,
President’s Day; I’ll include Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; it’s also his birthday. He once said, “Our youth are growing up in a
world saturated with the sophistries of Satan”, a warning that the fabric of our
nation’s morality is under constant attack.

“This
study followed a group of 1,000 children born in Dunedin, New Zealand
between 1972 and 1973. In the ten years when these kids were between 5 and 15
years of age, researchers followed up biennially to measure how much television
they watched. By the numbers, those kids who watched more television were more
likely to be antisocial and, in some cases, end up with a criminal conviction
of some sort.”

Maybe if the Obama administration considered the impact of
socially maladjusted individuals, those who’ve been bombarded with violence and
a lack of respect for others due to television programs, computer game
simulations which depict rape and other abominations all in the name of
entertainment or a movie industry which demeans the human condition to such an
extent that a few rationally impaired individuals are unable to discern between
reality and the delusional world that has over taken their minds; maybe then
Obama wouldn’t be demanding Congress solve the ‘gun violence problem’ through
infringements on our God given 2nd Amendment right and instead would
be looking for ways to restore family values which have been ignored by a
society which has rejected Christianity and its associated moral
teachings. (Have I mentioned my
affection for run on sentences?)

On this President’s Day I marvel at George Washington in his Farewell Address,
his love of liberty and his attempt to explain why he needed to step down
and let others take the lead; not exactly a man who only sought for power as
many would have us believe.

“Of all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable
supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of
the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious
man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their
connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is
the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious
obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in
courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that
morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the
influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and
experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in
exclusion of religious principle. It is
substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular
government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species
of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with
indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”

{…}

“In offering to you, my countrymen,
these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will
make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the
usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course
which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter
myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional
good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to
warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures
of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude
for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.”

{…}

“Though, in reviewing the incidents
of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless
too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed
many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or
mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope
that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that, after
forty five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the
faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must
soon be to the mansions of rest.”

Weighing all the information available regarding George
Washington and his place in history; it simply doesn’t add up that he was in it
for the power grab as some have portrayed.
Perhaps other presidents have exhibited these less than honorable
traits; but let’s not tear down a truly great president just so we can justify
what others have done. Happy
President’s Day.

This article has been cross posted to
The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The
Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

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About Me

I am a retired City of Houston Police Officer having served 20 years as a patrol officer. I am currently self employed as an automotive locksmith. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am married to my first and only sweetheart. We met while working at the Astrodome; she was the popcorn girl and I was the soda boy, both working in the back areas during our high school years.
We have 3 grown children and two grand children.